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VIEWPOINT: PETER HADZIPETROS: BACK OF THE PACKThe
sweat hereafter
Words flash across the screen that say something like, "When she sweats, she's hot." She expends some more dancing energy. More words. "When YOU sweat, YOU stink."
Oh, how I can relate. When I sweat and the wind is blowing in the right direction, you'll know it. Ask anyone who's ever run with me.
I'm drenched in the first 100 metres of a run. If you're behind me during a speed workout at the track, there's a good chance you will be sprayed.
If sweat were oil, I would be the world's 12th largest economy. Lake Superior was formed when I took a rest stop in a crater during a long run.
This time of year, I have to keep at least two pairs of running shoes going, because they won't dry out in time for my next run.
Last Sunday, our daughter came by to visit and said how musty the house smelled. My first thought was that I had kept my gym bag – containing clothes soaked with 34 kilometres worth of sweat – in the hallway too long.
A few days ago, I came in from a longish morning run and decided to park my shoes on the back porch, so they could dry in the sun. Within seconds, a cloud of flies had gathered, buzzing happily above my shoes.
You get the picture.
Now, I'm not sure whether that television ad was for a deodorant or an anti-perspirant. I'm one of those people who didn't realize there was a difference. There is.
According to the web site, WiseGeek:
"Antiperspirants contain fragrance, but they also contain chemical compounds that block the pores to stop the discharge of perspiration. No sweat, no odour."
"Deodorant allows the release of perspiration, but prevents odour by combating it with antiseptic agents, which kill odour-causing bacteria."
Those chemical compounds in antiperspirants usually contain aluminium salts. Some researchers have linked that to Alzheimer's Disease and breast cancer.
Because they block sweat from escaping through pores, antiperspirants are also the cosmetic product most associated with skin irritation.
So should I douse myself with antiperspirant and spare my running buddies?
Well, it seems there's this really cool side to sweat. It is your body's personal air conditioning system. A pea-sized bead of sweat can cool a litre of blood by a little more than half a degree Celsius. By that measure, my body should be capable of producing ice cream.
Keeping the body at a reasonable temperature is pretty key to long distance running.
If you stop sweating during strenuous exercise – or don't sweat enough – you run the risk of developing heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Medical experts warn that if you have heat exhaustion, you will need to cool down immediately. Best way to do that is by getting into the shade and drinking cool – but not cold – fluids. Heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heatstroke. That can kill you and maybe even wreck your chances at setting a personal best.
Sweat on its own is just water and salt. It is odourless. What makes it stink is when it comes into contact with bacteria – nasty stuff that might be on your skin. Or letting it fester in your shoes or running shorts.
After a run, my feet may look like I've soaked in a tub for a couple of days, but I'm still embracing my cool sweating. All that water's gotta go somewhere. Better to let it flow than have it slosh around inside.
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Peter Hadzipetros writes background and indepth features
for CBC News Online. Until he got into long distance running a few years ago,
he was a net importer of calories. He's run several marathons, including two Bostons.
In Oct. 2004, he recorded a PB of 3:09.21 in Columbus.
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